Ryan takes his time and tailors my lessons specifically to my level and to the type of music I’d like to play. He covers everything from the basics – like the proper way to hold the pick – to more advanced teachings like music theory. Ryan is flexible, patient, easy going, and he consistently teaches at a pace that I’m comfortable with. He provides take-home practice after every lesson and always has helpful suggestions any time I have questions. What I find incredibly helpful is that at the end of the lesson Ryan will run through the take-home practice on his guitar and let me record it on my phone so it’s easier for me to remember. When I’m ready to practice the next day I just pull up his notes and the video and I’m ready to go!

It’s obvious that Ryan has a passion for music, and it shows in his lessons. I would easily give him my highest recommendation.

I have taken my first few lessons with Ryan and so far they have all been awesome!! Ryan is an extremely knowledgeable and talented guitarist, but he meets you right where you are. I feel my confidence growing more and more with every lesson. I look forward to many more!!

Ryan is a great teacher! He understands his instrument as well as music. He never finds fault with a student and looks for ways to help you enjoy his lessons. He always looking for ways to make you better, without exceeding your abilities. I would tell anyone looking to learn guitar in the Philly area to definitely check Ryan out. He's a good person and I enjoyed my time working with him.

Though I have only taken lessons with Ryan for a few weeks, I am thoroughly impressed. Not only is Ryan very knowledgeable and talented, he is also a very patient and clear teacher. His lessons are organized, he gives lots of material to practice and I fully expect my skill level to grow exponentially under his tutelage.

Just wrapped up 5 lessons with Ryan S. He is very easy going and patient with any questions you have. Definitely feels like he takes you the long way around so that you end up with a more thorough understanding of the guitar and how to use it as efficiently as possible. I've been strumming this guitar for about 8 years and am learning a lot of things that I never even knew existed. Great teacher. Highly recommended.

As a fellow musician and teacher, I've had the pleasure to work with Ryan over the past year in several different capacities. I can personally attest to his wonderful musicianship, his professional demeanor, and fun loving personality. I would not hesitate to take lessons with Ryan - he's a great resource!

Ryan is the third guitar teacher I have tried and in my opinion the best. While the others I tried were either too unstructured or too technical, Ryan does an excellent job of teaching you the all the basics while tying in the more technical theory aspects in a manner that is both efficient and logical. The way he is able to break things down has helped me progress much faster compared to my other guitar teachers. He is also well versed in adapting yours lessons to the style of music you want to learn how to play and can teach you all the different nuances that will help your playing stand out. I highly recommend giving Ryan a shot to help your reach your guitar playing goals.

I took about 8 lessons with Ryan so far and it has been a very good experience. You can tell he is very passionate about the guitar and really creates a fun and interesting learning environment. I am a beginner and Ryan is very patient and helps me work through things I am struggling with. Before I was trying to teach myself but I feel after taking lessons for 2 months I already have learned 10 times as much as before.

As an administrator for Intercultural Family Services Music & Mentoring Program we have been fortunate to have a teacher of his caliber. Ryan in punctual, personable, and exciting. His classes are so well rounded so even if you are a novice, he has a way encouraging your progress to become an expert. The parents absolutely enjoy him as we all do. Having Ryan as an instructor is will not only teach you musically, but you will enjoy learning in an energetic and creative environment. Great Instructor!!!

Ryan teaches me a lot of good fundamentals and taught me chords I didn't even know existed. He is very nice and does not judge me even if I ask a stupid question.
He also teaches me how to play cool rifts and licks on my guitar and teaches rock songs that a lot of people from the 90's might know. He is great and I totally recommend him for anyone who is looking for a great guitar teacher!
~ Student of Ryan S.
If you are new to online lessons- they are amazing! Ryan shows up every week on time via Skype right into my living room from across the country! I don't have to get in the car and drive to lessons or wait. I usually get the dinner dishes done while my sons takes lessons- a major time saver for our busy family! RYAN is awesome! He is a great communicator with my son and with me as well. I receive weekly e-mails with material for lessons. Ryan is kind, encouraging and has really helped foster my son's love for guitar. I highly recommend him!
~ Parent of a Student of Ryan S.

I have been taking lessons with Ryan for the past three months and it has been a wonderful experience. Although Ryan has an incredible knowledge of music and how to play the guitar, he has easily and graciously adapted his teaching to fit me as a beginner. He is very patient and encouraging and always seems to be able to find things I have made progress in (when I tent to be more focused on things with which I am having difficulty). I like his big picture approach and the way he explains how the chords and scales and different positions relate to one another; I am learning music theory right alongside with learning how to play the guitar. He is always open to answering my questions and giving me further explanations and "tips" to help me with trouble spots. Ryan's easy going nature has taken the stress and temptation to "perform well" out of my lessons and has enabled me to relax and enjoy learning to play the guitar (which is the way it should be!).

Ryan has definitely opened up my perspective with regard to learning my instrument and "hearing" tonal options for music I like to play. I'm a working Dad with very limited time for lessons and practice, so an online learning platform has worked best for me. Ryan has been very accommodating and flexible. More than that, he's been extremely patient with my learning style. In addition to opening up my instrument for me, he's fostered a passion for learning guitar and a taste for new music that I may not have listened to/learned otherwise. I love music and because of Ryan, I've found a very heartfelt, almost tangible, passion for playing it. Ryan...thank you!!

I really enjoy taking lessons with Ryan and without equivocation consider him to be one of the best instructors I've had the privilege of working with. I am in my 40's and have taken many music lessons throughout the course of my life (piano, organ, guitar, sax, etc.). Being a musician our minds approach things in a very creative manner which can make learning new material challenging. Although we are all seeking the same end, different approaches need to be utilized to achieve that goal. Its clear after working with Ryan that he is very aware of these hurdles students face, most likely because he's experienced the same issues himself as a student and as a teaching professional. He clearly sets himself apart from other teachers by not forcing the same cookie-cutter approach on his students. Although we all need to understand, learn and apply fundamentals, which can be very mundane, Ryan has developed a very unique and creative approach that presents these ideas in a less cumbersome manner. An approach that at least to me seems easier to grasp and further put into practice. Ryan also understands we want to take what we learn and be able to apply it in a practical setting quickly. Let's face it...we want to play guitar and make music, not sound mechanical by playing scales. Ryan has developed a lesson plan that accomplishes all of these goals and does so in a very enjoyably, fun and rewarding way. Ryan has opened up a world to me that I never thought I would enjoy based on past lesson experiences. I am very thankful to have him as my instructor. He has totally blown away my privious conceptions of what a guitar instructor is and what they need to be to pass on that knowledge capital to their students.

I really like Ryan approach. He is friendly and makes you comfortable. I'm 63 years old and I'm just trying to learn to play some Jazz & Blues and after several years of jumping all over the place with web lessons and really learning nothing; I think I've finally found a teacher who can help me learn to play guitar. I look forward to my lessons with Ryan. I hope to continue this music relationship until I can really play. Its my dream and my hobby now that I'm retired and Ryan has already given me the confidence I need to succeed.

Infectious Enthusiasm

What makes Ryan a terrific instructor is more than just his extensive guitar knowledge. It's more than the personalized curriculum and patient approach he offers to each student. It's even more than his great sense of humor and the encouragement he brings to each lesson. What makes Ryan a truly great instructor becomes apparent within moments of meeting him: this dude LOVES the guitar. Simple as it sounds, the sheer enthusiasm he has for the instrument is infectious and carries over into his lessons in such a way that you can't help but take it home with you. Learning a new instrument can be a daunting and difficult journey, but you will not find an instructor more willing to guide you through it than Ryan.

Amazing Teacher!

Ryan is an incredible teacher! He has an undeniable passion for what he does, patience with his students, and is an excellent communicator on all levels. He's fun to be around, but still handles himself with total professionalism. Ryan's students have always enjoyed his classes and he really takes great pride in what he does.

Best Guitar Teacher Around!!!

This guy makes learning guitar not such a daunting task. I have always wanted to learn guitar- and thought I was too old to start now- But after working with Ryan- I am confident that my skills will only grow and that some day I will be as good as he is :) His lessons are geared towards your specific needs- he creates a curriculum that is attainable. I really appreciate the personal approach he takes with his students and I look forward to continuing working with him. Great Teacher!!!

Gives Outstanding Lessons; Produces Excellent Video Series

I am writing a review from a couple of different perspectives, as I've received lessons from Ryan in a number of capacities. I am an intermediate-level bass player who received his initial music theory training from Ryan, and his explanations were clear and concise.

Recently, I've become a geography professor at the University of Akron, and I teach a variety of topics, including Introductory Cultural Geography. Part of this involves looking at how different types of music spread throughout the world. Ryan created an excellent video that supplemented my lecture; he thoroughly, yet very clearly, described how the spread of the minor pentatonic scale contributed to the development of heavy rock and metal music across the globe. Without this insight, my lecture would have been less accurate, as well as less entertaining to the students!

As a stringed-instrument player and a professor who includes music geography and history in his classes, I highly recommend lessons with Ryan. His descriptions and instructional method are outstanding (please see his excellent video series, "Swing's Shred Tips" on YouTube), and he also clearly demonstrates a deeper knowledge about music. Rather than just playing fast to shred, he will teach the underlying ideas behind the music to improve your playing (as he clearly demonstrated in his custom lecture on geography/history in my class). Highest possible recommendation!

Integrity Rules

Ryan has a great knowledge of his craft. Highly educated in his field, he brings talent, history, patience and humor to his Students. It can be a tedious, learning any instrument, but like fine art practice, makes for new and Better adventures. Thank You Ryan for all you do! You're Awesome :)

SUPER FUN Trainer!

I've had the pleasure of being trained by Ryan previously and not only is he extremely talented but he's just all around fun. He makes you feel extremely comfortable at your worst and has endless patience. He's thorough and knows his stuff-- and he also has a great sense of humor and endless energy. I would recommend him in a heartbeat!!!